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If your garden or houseplants have ever fallen prey to a hungry or mischievous feline, you have probably wondered what you can do to keep cats away from your plants. While there may not be a fool-proof way to deter cats, there are plants that some cats avoid that you can safely plant in your garden. Some plants are poisonous to cats, however, so eliminate those to keep your home and garden safe for feline residents and visitors.

Why Cats Eat Plants

Many cats munch on greens, even though they are considered carnivores. According to the ASPCA website, scientists don't have any evidence that cats get nutritional value from eating greens. One theory is that cats might eat plants to induce vomiting in order to resolve gastrointestinal problems or expel hairballs. Cats also like to play with plants or use the dirt underneath as a litter box or to roll in.

Repelling Cats

Finding a plant that repels cats might require some experimentation. Rue, lavender and pennyroyal are plants that cats typically don't like because of their odor, but cats are unpredictable creatures and not every cat will react the same. Utah's Best Friends Animal Society also recommends the plant Coleus canina, which is also known as a "scaredy cat plant." Thorny roses can also be unappealing to cats.

Poisonous Plants

In addition to plants that cats dislike, some plants are actually poisonous to them. PetMD's website lists symptom of poisonous plant consumption, including vomiting and diarrhea, mouth pain and excess saliva, and breathing trouble. Some common culprits are rhododendron, azalea, mushrooms, sago palm, buttercup, daffodil and hyacinth. Check the ASPCA's complete list of toxic plants to make sure your plants are safe for cats.

Other Options

If you still have trouble keeping cats out of your garden or houseplants, try luring them to an acceptable alternative. Plant a small area with catnip or cat grass to attract cats to a particular spot and hopefully distract them from the other plants in the area.